From Toga to Tiny Home: How Ancient Philosophers Would Crush It on Zillow
The Modern Tiny House Craze
I am writing a post that puts the Tiny Home movement into perspective. It didn't spring out of nowhere; its roots might surprise you. There is a philosophy behind tiny homes: the tiny house movement philosophy, a pearl of ancient wisdom for simple living.
But this requires a walk through the gardens of history, and like any garden, one flower can look like the next to the uninitiated. Just like the garden, one dry historical fact can put you to sleep like any other. We won't be doing dry or sleeping.
We will touch on Minimalism, Buddhism, Zen, and even Stoicism. But we’ll do it so that it will not be painful. After all, imagine Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, a luminary among the Stoics, and the author of “Meditations” would dig the minimalist action of tiny homes. He might step into a tiny home, feel the calm, the silence, and say, “This is all one needs for Tranquility. Except for the Wi-Fi”
The contemporary Tiny Home movement springs from the pitiless debt our McMansions cause, the financial assault of our stratospheric mortgages, and the sea of ever-increasing clutter we are buried in. The never-ending cycle of spending, collecting, and spending makes us ask, “Why?”
Like so many other things, nothing is really original. Classical Romans and Greeks were the essential influencers of the tiny home.
Ancient beginnings: The Stoics (Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus)
The Cliff-note version of the Stoic Philosophy is quick and painless. Live simply, concentrate on what you can control, and jettison all the baggage–physical, mental, and emotional.
Here's a fun story: Epictetus was a slave. As one would expect, he lived minimally (there is that word!). If he happened to be standing in Starbucks the other day while I was eyeing my friend's caramel macchiato, his philosophy would have compelled him to say, “Just drink what you have already!” This is in keeping with the Stoics' belief that you should not lust for what you cannot control or have (unless you have a spare tenner burning a hole in your pocket!).
The Stoic teachings dovetail into minimalism by valuing contentment with having less. Marcus Aurelius said as much in his Meditations, asserting that detachment from possessions is positive and that being happy with less is noble.
If Marcus Aurelius were with us today, he’d look at our McMansions and pontificate on the absolute waste of four bedrooms for two people. He’d say, “Build smaller and meditate in the backyard!” That's Marcus Aurelius on simple living.
Eastern Simplicity or “Hey Zen!”
Like our Roman above, Eastern philosophies had similar foci. Taoism and Buddhism advocate simple existence and believe in the harmony of letting go of attachments. Do you feel the thread in both? The letting go of attachment and how you can find peace and harmony by not collecting every damn thing?
Laozi, the Chinese wise guy credited with the brainchild of Taoism, would likely have an epileptic fit if he saw our collections of stuff today. He’d walk into our jam-packed garages and say, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with unloading all this shit!”
You may have heard of the Japanese principle of Wabi-Sabi. Its focus is on finding beauty in simple things, even those things that are broken or imperfect. Wabi-Sabi aligns with the Zen principles of mindfulness, simplicity, and the impermanence of things.
These principles have influenced the structure and design of Tiny Homes. Natural materials are well sought after, especially pieces attractive in their natural form, such as tables with a live edge. The physical design of the interior also harkens back to a multifunctional design, such as the stairs and baseboard drawers. The design is efficient and uncluttered, with Zen written all over it.
The Original “Less is More” Society: The Epicureans
If I had to choose one example, I would select Epicurus (well, yeah, he's the main man. Duh.). He thought modest living and genuine relationships were the source of true happiness, not wealth. This leads us to a central idea in the tiny home philosophy: relationships and a thoughtful, minimal existence are true wealth, not crazy riches.
I think one thing we can be sure of is that if Epicurus lived in a cozy 400-square-foot tiny home, he would be rocking some wine and cheese parties! His focus would be on his friends rather than the size of the cheese and meat board. Tiny living naturally fosters this focus on relationships, small-scale living, less cost, and bigger smiles!
Thoreau and Modern Minimalism: The Renaissance of “Less”
If we all remember Henry David Thoreau and the tiny cabin on Walden Pond, this was about reflections on simplicity, self-reliance, and a natural existence. Of course, it was also something of a social critique, but beyond that, he also reflected on personal satisfaction. This is, perhaps, the first contemporary reflection on tiny living.
It's doubtful Thoreau ever thought, “Do I need a walk-in closet?” His was an honest reflection on what is truly important in a person’s existence. Even here, we can find humans connecting with simplicity and roots in minimalism. It's probably safe to say it was not an IKEA innovation to pare down our lives. It is much more likely many have been seeking how to live like Thoreau today. Living with less in a tiny house is Thoreau’s piece de resistance. The philosophical parallels between the classical philosophers, Thoreau, and the present-day wisdom are clear.
And Now Minimalism Meets America’s McMansion Migraine
We are in the vise-like clutches of rampant consumerism. Many of us do not see the insidious nature of marketing and advertising, which manipulates the mindless masses to binge-buy repeatedly. We have been conditioned to believe more is necessary and bigger is better. But this consumer philosophy has left so many of us overworked, overwhelmed, and, in many cases, broke or bankrupt.
In another post, I mentioned that the average McMansion contains something on the order of 300 thousand items. I swear, were he here with us, Socrates would likely lose his sandals in our mess. Is it any wonder some of us are decluttering like an ancient philosopher? I should write a book entitled “The Stoic’s Guide to Living in a Small House” or “Ancient Minimalist Hacks for Modern Living.” It would sell! After all, who wants to dust a 3,000-square-foot house when they could be parasailing?
What Would the Great Philosophers Say About our Tiny Homes?
Marcus Aurelius: "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." He would likely agree with the simplicity of tiny homes, believing everyone should avoid unnecessary material possessions.
Henry Thoreau: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach." Thoreau would envision the tiny home as something elemental to what truly matters: self-discovery and nature
Epicurus: Don't seek a palace to lord over everyone; instead, seek the smallest havens for your needs. A home must house your life–not your ego–in there find the peace and joy riches can never buy.”
Laozi: "The great Tao flows everywhere. All things depend on it for life, and it does not turn away from them." Laozi would appreciate how tiny homes often emphasize sustainable living. He would approve of a tiny house in nature living in harmony.
Tiny Houses Resonate Today
Financial freedom is a driving force in tiny home ownership. To be sure, everyone can’t afford 150 thousand dollars–or even 60 thousand—but financing this is far from the 400 thousand dollar starter price of a new home. Loan payments are much less steep than conventional mortgages, and it's easier to make a larger deposit, thereby reducing the mortgage even further. And as I think about it, Marcus Aurelius didn't have a mortgage; why should you?
Another driving force for the tiny home movement is sustainability. There are many ways to calculate how sustainable it is. I would like to compare the amount of paint it takes to paint inside and outside a 3000-square-foot home and a 30-foot-long tiny home (about 255 square feet). To paint the exterior and interior of the McMansion will take as much as 30 gallons of flat white paint or–drum roll–600 dollars. The tiny home? 8 gallons or 160 dollars. And this is bargain basement paint. Tiny houses are like the Stoics' answer to global warming.
Intentional living is also widely considered a necessary attribute of tiny living and another driving force in the movement. When you are only focused on the essentials of living, you are left without distraction. Again, this allows one to revel in the simple but important aspects of life–love, passions, family, and NETFLIX binges (because balance).
Maximum Living in Minimum Space
My desire here is to demonstrate that tiny living, with its decluttering, attention to essentials, and minimalism, is not new or a flash in the pan movement. Its foundational beliefs are timeless, and the wide-ranging philosophies from across time and space clearly demonstrate this truth.
All the ancients we have discussed here would agree: it doesn't matter if you are sipping green tea gingerly or binge-watching the latest reality show in your loft, as long as you are not hoarding the next piece of consumer junk!
So, are you ready to walk the walk with Marcus Aurelius, downsizing and decluttering as you go? You could even build that tiny home. Who knew tiny living could be so philosophical?
